Mrs. Diane Chevalier welcomed the guests and opened the evening with prayer. Mrs. Sue Green read “A Christmas Version of First Corinthians 13.”

A Christmas Version of 1st Corinthians 13

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not share the true meaning of Christmas, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not demonstrate kindness to strangers, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Author Unknown

Mrs. Tiffany Hampton, the director of Women’s Activities at the Church at West Mountain, delivered an inspirational message on keeping Christ the focus of Christmas. She shared some staggering statistics about our spending during the holidays. For example, in 2012, Americans spent $579.5 billion dollars during the holiday season. Six billion dollars were spent on Christmas lights alone. Mrs. Hampton urged her listeners to practice “eucharisteo.” That is, to be full of grace, which produces a heart of thanksgiving which produces absolute joy. Her tips for making Christ the center of Christmas included: keeping Jesus the focus of your giving; keeping an attitude of praise, worship, and thanksgiving; loving your neighbor as yourself; sharing the gospel whenever possible; and remembering that Jesus is no longer a baby in a manger.

Mrs. Cami Burkhalter played the piano to accompany the ladies in the singing of several Christmas carols, including O Come, All Ye Faithful, and Joy to the World. At the end of the evening, the table centerpieces were awarded to one of the guests at each table following an amusing holiday game of LEFT – RIGHT. As the evening closed, the Methodist Women gave special thanks to Mr. Dick Chapman and Mr. Todd Robison for their assistance in clearing the fellowship hall.